With the Carolina Panthers taking down the Bucs on Thursday, the fantasy football matchup weekend is now underway and heading into Sunday, some of the top fantasy football studs and busts for the week includes Joseph Fauria, Jarrett Boykin, Jacquizz Rodgers, Michael Vick, Golden Tate as well as Peyton Hillis and Calvin Johnson.
This week the Detroit Lions will be facing off against the Dallas Cowboys in an anticipated game and while the tight end has slowed over the past week since breaking out big with three touchdowns a couple weeks ago, he could be poised for a nice game on Sunday. The Cowboys are coming off of a win and are playing better than most expected, but the defense has a big mismatch with Fauria, who is just a huge athletic freak and the linebackers should be outmatched every play he is on the field. Whether that turns into points remains to be seen, but Matthew Stafford loves what this tight end brings to the table and that should enable the team to get him the ball more than they did last week against the Bengals.
Cincinnati did a solid job of shutting down Fauria last week and while he had four targets, he ended up with just one catch and that likely will not be the case on Sunday. Remember that game against the Denver Broncos? Both teams have up a ton of yards and the Cowboys could do the same on Sunday with a big offensive team like the Lions coming to town. Matthew Stafford will have Calvin Johnson and even if Reggie Bush can't go, they should be able to put up some points.
Fauria was a STUD back a couple weeks ago when he had three catches for 34 yards and three touchdowns on the day and he now has four scores over his past five games, including one against the Redskins back in September. Fauria has five touchdowns this season to rank in the top 10 of the league and while he only has eight catches for 81 yards, I have the feeling this will be another breakout week.
Jarrett Boykin is in line for another STUD day and that comes after his huge day against the Browns last week when he has eight catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in the game. Boykin is now the top option after Randall Cobb and James Jones were hurt and he has the potential to have a big game against the Vikings on Sunday night. Michael Vick and Golden Tate are solid options this week, as Vick will be starting against the Giants on Sunday, while Tate is playing the Rams.
Jacquizz Rodgers is a BUST pick this week and it has nothing to do with him at all. Steven Jackson is expected to be back in the lineup and that will take the ball out of his hands, although Rodgers is the backup, so he obviously will get some touches. Rodgers has been very solid in relief for Jackson and he has contributed in both the passing and the rushing game this season. Rodgers had eight catches last week for 46 yards against the Bucs will 16 yards rushing and while that doesn't jump out at you, over the previous three weeks he was very good on total yards, including against New England when he had six catches for 56 yards. In deeper leagues, start Rodgers, but otherwise he is a bust in week 8.